This chapter is a bit of a weird one. It details a future event. You have two choices, 1. This is the last adventure of our heroes, whenever I stop writing this story. Or you have, 2. This is group of near identical Sliders and our group is still safe and sound stumbling through the parallel earths. Now that this is out of the way, enjoy the story, and don't forget to review! (Also, a little poll that you can answer in the review, Do you want our Sliders to run into any older faces from the show? They can be heroes or villians, just tell me who you wanna see!)
Chapter 14:
An older man approached a bench in Golden Gate Park. He sat down and glanced down at an old iPhone that displayed a timer counting down from one hour.
"They aren't going to show up, I knew they wouldn't." he said.
"I don't know about you, but as much fun as the last 30 years has been, I want to get out of here." another voice said. The man looked up to see the aged face of his best friend.
"Sam Evans, I was hoping you'd be the first one here." the man said.
"Well, Mike, sliding was one of the best things to happen to me, and I've been waiting for this for years." Sam said.
"We're only missing one person." Michael said.
"Not anymore!" Rebecca said, walking up.
"So, we're all leaving then?" Sam asked.
"Seems so." Michael said. "You know, I didn't think you'd be coming, Rebecca, after the fight we had when we missed the window."
"It's been almost thirty years, Michael. I'd like to get home one of these days." Rebecca said.
"What was the fight even about?" Michael asked.
"I don't even remember." Rebecca replied. "But it was your fault we missed the window."
"It most certainly was not!" Michael shouted.
"Guys. Calm down!" Sam said. "Look at yourselves! You're grown adults and still fighting about something that happened three decades ago! I moved on, so should you!"
"That reminds me, when you had to settle down here, what did you end up doing?" Michael asked.
"Dad!" a voice shouted. Michael sighed.
"I told you not to follow me." Michael said.
"Dad, you told Mom that you were just leaving and never coming back? What the fuck?" the man asked.
"Colin, listen. This is something I have to do." Michael said. "I didn't want to worry you."
"Where are you going?" Colin asked.
"Remember that story I used to tell you before bed, the one about how I traveled to countless universes?" Michael replied.
"Yeah, those were great stories." Colin said.
"It wasn't a story." Sam said. "All of them were true."
"No way! You're lying, what are you really doing?" Colin shouted.
"Listen, Colin is it? You're as thick skulled as your father. He's telling the truth. We're not from this world. We're from another earth."
"Why should I believe that?"
"This." Michael held the timer in his hand. "This is the device that we used. See that counter? It's counting down to when we get to leave. And as much as I like it here, with your mother and you, I don't belong here."
"Why did you start a family then?" Colin asked.
"It wasn't my intention, but your mother and I clicked in a way no one did with me. And I figured that maybe in 30 years, I wouldn't want to leave. But I was wrong." Michael replied, sighing.
"But I'm going to miss you!" Colin shouted. "Didn't you think of me?"
"I did, but like I said, I don't belong here!" Michael said.
"You two, you came here with him, tell me what you did with your life here!" Colin said.
"Well, I got a job and became a teacher." Rebecca said. "But I didn't get married because I always intended to leave."
"And me, I was never one for relationships anyway, so I just sorta lived my life as I did on our home world." Sam said.
"See, dad! They didn't settle down!" Colin shouted.
"I... I had lost hope at that point. I was in a bad part of my life, and I gave up on sliding. But with your mother's help, I realized that life goes on." Michael said.
"I don't want you to go!" Colin said. "But if you do, I go with you."
"Colin, your mother didn't want me to go, it would kill her if you left too." Michael said. "Please go home, and comfort her."
"Fine. But if I ever figure out how to do that "sliding" thing, I'm coming after you." Colin said.
"I'll be waiting for that." Michael said. "Goodbye, Colin. I love you."
"Goodbye, Dad." Colin said smiling.
"Goodbye, Son." Michael said.
Colin walked away and Michael sat back down on the bench. Rebecca and Sam sat down next to him.
"What do we do for the rest of the time until we go?" Michael asked.
"Do you guys remember when we got here?" Sam said.
"Yeah, although I'm sure I'm fuzzy because it was a while ago." Rebecca said.
"I remember it pretty well." Sam said. "It was a little before we were going to slide out."
Michael, Rebecca and Sam walked down the street. Sam shoved his face full of nachos.
"Very graceful, Sam." Rebecca said.
"Come on!" Sam said swallowing the nachos. "This is the world where they sell nachos on every corner! Am I not supposed to eat them?"
"Give him a break, Rebecca! If we found a world with your favorite food on every corner, wouldn't you want to buy it?" Michael asked.
"Does he have to eat like that, though?" Rebecca replied.
"Anyway, how much time do we have left?" Sam asked.
"Two minutes." Michael said.
"Good, you think the next world will be ours?" Sam asked.
"I sure hope so." Rebecca replied. "Can I see the timer?"
"Why?" Michael asked.
"Because I want to. Do I need a reason?" Rebecca said.
"Then, no."
"Give it to me!" she grabbed it from his hand and the timer landed on the ground and slid across the street.
"Shit!" Michael shouted as traffic flew by.
"God damn it!" Sam said. "We can't get through this traffic!"
The light turned red and the trio ran across the street. Michael picked the timer up and inspected for damage.
"It's fine." Michael said.
"Phew..." Rebecca said. "Is it time yet?"
"It says... oh no. Oh god." Michael said, his face contorted in a look of fear.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked.
"The timer is counting down still..." Michael said.
"Good!" Rebecca said. "How much time?"
"Twenty nine point seven years." Michael said.
"What?" Sam and Rebecca shouted in unison.
"We're trapped here for thirty years." Michael said. "I'm so sorry."
"This is all your fault!" Rebecca shouted.
"And that's how this all started! You both acted liked children and we missed the window." Sam said.
"So, this is all our fault." Michael said.
"I guess it is. Listen, I'm sorry." Rebecca said.
"No, I am." Michael said.
"You both are. And the timer is about to get to zero, so let's get out of here." Sam said, pointing the timer at the ground.
"Just like old times, eh?" Michael asked jumping in.
"Just like old times!" Sam shouted, jumping in after him.
"They haven't changed, and I hope they never will." Rebecca said leaping in as the portal closed.
To Be Continued...